The 11th Commercialbank Qatar Masters, Presented by Dolphin Energy, gets underway with the traditional eve-of-event Rolex Pro-Am today (Jan 23) with stars of sport and entertainment lining up with the best of the PGA European Tour.
As well as US track legend Michael Johnson, other international sporting icons taking on the 7,388-yard Doha Golf Club course are former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright, five times Olympic rowing gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave, former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker and English cricketing hero Sir Ian Botham.
Adding a touch of Hollywood glamour to the occasion, Jane Seymour will join Sir Steve Redgrave and compete with current Order of Merit leader Lee Westwood for CNN 2, while her husband Hollywood actor and director James Keach will be with Dane Soren Kjeldsen in the UDC 1.
Hosted by Commercialbank, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), the atmosphere for the $2.5 million tournament is hotting up as the biggest names in golf descend on Doha Golf Club ready to do battle for the richest prize in the history of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters, Presented by Dolphin Energy.
Among the stars and big names in town is a young man many people are tipping to become the next big thing in the world game. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (left) shot to fame last year when he won the silver medal as the best placed amateur at the Open Championship in Carnoustie, Scotland.
The 18 year-old turned professional in September and since then has finished third in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and tied for fourth at the Open de Madrid Valle Romano in Spain.
The stunning start to his pro career has had many golf industry insiders describing him as the best young player since Tiger Woods and the teenager – who appropriately hails from a town called Hollywood – gets his first taste of the Doha course in the Rolex-sponsored Pro-Am as a the pro in the Qatar Gas 1 team.
“Every time you go out on Tour you feel more comfortable,” says McIlroy. “You get to know more people and it has been great as all the guys have made me feel welcome out here.”
McIlroy finished joint 11th in last week’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and continues to impress the global golfing media. It would seem merely a matter of time before Northern Ireland’s latest sporting genius steps up to claim his first victory.
